Itama Ben-Gvir, a far-right politician, announced Wednesday that the office of Israel’s National Security Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been reappointed as Israel’s national security minister.
Two other members of Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit Party, also returned to their ministerial position.
They both withdrew from the government in January to protest against the ceasefire and hostage prisoner release agreement Netanyahu and the Palestinian Islamic group Hamas protests in the Gaza Strip.
Ben-Gvir’s return remains despite Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara’s comments on Tuesday night, as he determined Netanyahu could not legally reappoint him to the same cabinet position.
Baharav-Miara has previously accused Ben-Gvir of illegally interfering in police operations. While the Attorney General did not provide specific information in her statement, Israeli media said the allegation was likely justification for her to determine that Ben Giver will not be able to take the post again.
Netanyahu’s right-wing and religiously conservative government is working to remove him, and the attorney general opposes what she believes is illegal.
Ben-Gvir returns after the ceasefire
After two months of relative calm, the ceasefire collapsed as Israel launched a wave of air strikes across Gaza. According to Hamas, Gaza – More than 400 people were killed and hundreds were injured.
Israel blames Hamas for refusing to release more hostages in a stalemate to extend the ceasefire.
Hamas accused Israel of endangering the remaining hostages still in Gaza since the war broke out after the Hamas-led massacre held in Israel on October 7, 2023. The group demands any future ceasefire agreement including the evacuation of all Israeli forces and the outcome of the war – Israel’s conditions have been rejected.
